Gun of the mortar howitzer type



Feb. 11, 1936. 1 BRIGGS 2,030,507

GUN OF THE MORTAR HOWITZER TYPE Original Ffiled Nov. 29, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 I nventor 2H (Ittornegs Feb. 11, 1936.

L. DRIGGS GUN OF THE MORTAR HOWITZER TYPE Original Filed Nov. 29, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor 1936. L. L. DRIGGS GUN OF THE MORTAR HOWITZER TYPE Original Filed Nov. 29, 1932 s Sheets-Sheet 5 F@b.. 11, 193 6. L. DRIGGS 2,030,507

GUN OF THE MORTAR HOWITZER TYPE I Original Filed Nov. 29, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 5% L. L. gnventor (IttomegS.

' L. L. DRIGGS GUN OF THE MORTAR HOWiTZER TYPE e Sheet-Sheet 5 Original Filed Nov. 29, 1932 attorneys! eh. H, 1936. L. L. DRIGGS I 2,030,507

GUN OF THE MORTAR HOWITZER TYPE ori inai Filed Nov. 29, 1932 e Sheets-Shet 6 Patented Feb. 11, 1936 PATENT OFFICE 7 GUN on THE MORTAR nowrrznn TYPE Louis L. Driggs, New Rochelle; N. Y., assignor to Roberta Whiting Driggs, New Rochelle, N. Y.

Application November 29, 1932, Serial No; 644,868 Renewed July 15, 1935 9 Claiins. (CI. 8940) The present invention relates to guns of the mortar howitzer type, and has for an object to ipro'vide a gun of this type with a breech loading construction and wherein the pivotal support of g the barrel is in rear-of the breech block, and wherein the mounting of the gun is such that the barrel may be swung into various positions of the azimuth throughout the entire 360.

Another object of the present invention is to 10 @To -ide an improved support for the barrel wherein it may be pivoted at substantially its center of gravity to admit of the break at the breech for loading and removing shells from the barrel and to provide an improved counterpoise in; for facilitating adjustment of the barrel to the desired range inclination, the structure embodying a cradle between the breech block and the barrel pivot.

:A further object of the invention is to provide 20 an improved mount for the gun which has a substantially vertical or upright post capable of general axial adjustment and also of a micrometer adjustment to hold and adjust the barrel at the exact desired position. The invention also aims at the provision of an improved breech loading mortar of the howitzer type wherein is -combined all of the advantages of breech loading with the rear end pivot, the counterpoise and the desired horizontal adjustment.

: With the foregoing and other objects in view,

the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be 'more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer 35 to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, I

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a mortar howitzer gun constructed according to the present invention. I

40 Figure 2 isa fragmentary enlarged side elevation partly in section of the breech and adjacent portions of the gun, the dotted lines showing the breech open with the barrel swung on its cradle.

45 Figure 3 is a like view in longitudinal section. V Figure 4 is a detail top plan view of the gun mount with the breech, cradle and adjacent parts removed.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical section on 50 the line 5-5 of Figure 4, taken through the same.

Figure 6 is a transverse section on the line B6 of Figure 5 showing the micrometer adjustment of the mount.

55 Figure 7 is -a transverse section on the line 1-1 of Figure 3 through the barrel beyond the cradle, and showing the pivotal connection therewith.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary horizontal section on the line 8-8 of Figure 3 through the breech. 5 Figure 9 is a transverse section on the line 9-9 of Figure 8 showing the main pivot of the gun behind the breech, and

Figure 10 is a transverse section on the line l0-l0 of Figure 8 showing the ejector mecha- 19 nism.

Referring now to the drawings, the mount'for the improved gun is shown particularly in Figures 1,- 4 and 5 and comprises a rotatable post 20 which is fitted in the upper end of a stand 1 orbody frame 2|. The frame 2| may be of tubular construction and is provided with a suitable liner 22 of bronze or other desired material to take up wear between the frame 2| and the post 2|] and to insure a proper tight fit and the 20 necessary support of the post in the frame. The frame 2| is provided at its upper end with an annular outstanding flange 23 in which are formed any desired number of openings 24 disposed in circular relation about the frame,'and 2 the flange 23 is provided at preferably three equidistantly spaced apart points with outstanding apertured lugs 25 which register with corresponding apertured lugs 26 provided upon the lower end portion of the frame 2 l,'the pairs of lugs 30 25 and 26 carrying removable pivot pins 21 upon whichare pivotally mounted the inner ends of outriggers 28. 'Each'pin 21 is headed at its upper end and is preferably countersunk in the upper face of the adjacent lug 25 while the lower end of the pin 21 carries a removable cotter pin 29 adapted to engage against the lower face of the adjacent lower lug'26.

The inner end of each outrigger 28 is provided with a pair of spaced apart apertured lugs 30 40 adapted to engage respectively against the inner faces of the adjacent lugs 25 and 26, and each pin 21 carries at one side a locking key 3| disposed beneath the head of the pin and which engages in key slots provided in the adjacent lugs 25 and 30 to hold the adjacent outrigger 28 from swinging about the pin 21. Each lug 25 is provided with an outwardly extending stop arm 32 which extends downwardly at its outer end and adapted to engage one side of the adjacent outrigger 28 to brace the same against swinging. Preferably but two of the lugs 25 are provided with the arms 32 and the adjacent Outriggers 2B are provided with projections 33 near their inner ends and at the sides of the outriggers remote from the arms 32, and to which are attached links 34 converging toward the third outrigger 28' and secured to projections 35 which extend from the opposite sides thereof, as shown in Figure 4. These links 34 interbrace the outriggers and act in conjunction with the stop arms 32 for holding the outriggers against swinging out of their normal radial relation with respect to the body frame 21 It, is apparent that this outrigger structure may 'be quickly and easily knocked down and set up.

The lower end of the body frame 2| is preferably toothed or serrated so. as-to provide ground engaging portions which form anchoring means for the frame to hold it against skidding or displacement incident to vibration and impact received during the handling and firingof thegun. This mount may be conveniently disposed upon a horizontal ground surface, or against an embankment as is usual with this type o'f'gun and gthe gun -,may ,beadjustedand otherwise used in the same-manner: inthe/variouspositions of the mount as has been had heretofore with mounts of the type;whichrequireembanlnnents to support-them.

"The post 20. ;is;adapted; for rotative adjustment ;in thefra-me 21, andqtorefiect this, a metal strap 36 is fitted against oneside of the post '20, and

. as shown in, Figure 6, the adjacent side of the postmay ,be;reinforced:byitextra thickness of the material at that point to carry the strap. The

strap -36 is:curve,d-,to the configurationio'f the post Zll and is provided with circumferential slots 31 through which :slidably engage V-headed guide screws-3B which-.arethreaded into the side of the post 20 to permit zthezstrapj36 to slide circumferentially "against the post. ,At an intermediate portion, the-strap;3.6;;carries: asubstantially vertical housing g3s9-iin which :is:;positioned a :spring Pressed plunger or..lockingpin :40 projecting beneathl the casing 39; and adaptedforselective engagementjn oneof the :openings 24 of the flange turning the screw 42 Vin-thenecessary'direction.

The post 20 isprovidedpon its upper end with a pair ofspacedrarmsgorlhorns 44 whichare preferably inclined or offset at-their upper ends toward one side of thezpost-lll, asshownin Figure 5, andat the base of the arms-441a second lower pair of fork arms -45'p-roject from the opposite .side of the post .20.

The arms -44 carry the main pivot pin 46, and the latter passes througha pair =ofspaced ears 4.! which extend rearwardly from a breech block .48 and engage against the inner opposite faces of the arms 44,. The breech block 48jis mounted on the rear =end-of-a cradle :49 which extends 'from the lower end of theab-reech block forwardly to. a point substantially ,coincidentwith thecen- ,ter of grav-ityof the barrel 50 of :the gun.

The barrel 50 rests at its inner end portion upon the cradle 49 and'interfits with the breech block 48 to close the breech. The barrel .50 is provided-with trunnions 5| which :are preferably carried upon the opposite sides of a ring 52 encircling the barrel 50 at the outer end of the cradle 49 and which are seated in bearings 53 provided on the forward end of the cradle. The cradle also has a pair of forwardly and downwardly inclined stop arms 54 adapted to be engaged by stop pins 55 mounted on arms 56 carried by the ring 52. As shown in Figure 2, when the breech of the gun is open and the barrel 50 swung downwardly at its muzzle end, such swinging movement of the barrel is limited by the stop pins 55 engaging the stop arms 54. The bearings -53 areprovided with cap pieces 51 which overlap the upper fiat faces of the trunnions 5| and which may be removed when it is desired to lift the barrel 59 out of the cradle.

Thezbarrel 50 is provided on its inner end with a breech ring 58 which may be threaded or otherwise suitably secured to the barrel and which, as shown-particularly in Figure 8, has a pair of rearwardly extending arms .59 which extend rearwardly beyond the opposite sides of the breech block 48 and have inwardly projecting locking shoulders 60 at their rear .ends for. interlocking engagement with correspondingly formed lugs or projections -'-6l provided at the opposite sides of thebreech block 48.

The lugs -BI and. the shoulders 60'are correspondingly curved or interfitted to conform to the necessary seating and-releasing of the shoulders from .the lugs as the barrel-'50 is swung into and out of breech opening position.

Suitable means is provided for locking the barrel 5!] inclosed position, and the present drawings illustrate one manner in which this may .35

.arm 59 from swinging upwardly in the-barrel.

The plate -63'has an=upwardly and forwardly inclined slot 65 into which'projects a horizontal pin 66 carried on the free end of a handle 61 which is pivotally mounted atone side of the breech ring 58, as shown to advantage in Figures 1 and 8. Initial'upward movement of the rear end of'thehandle 61 raises the .pin 66 in '50 the slot. 65 and retracts the latch plate 63 sufficiently to remove the nose64 from beneath the lug 6|. Further upwardmovement of the handle .61 swings the barrel 50 on itsforward pivot 5| so that access'may-be had to the breech of the barrel.

The breech 48 is provided at a suitable point with a firing pin-68 with one end directed toward the breech of the barrel 50, and the other end projecting outwardly through the rear side of the breech block 48 for contact. with a hammer 69 which is pivoted upon a rearwardly and downwardly projecting lug 10 -on the lower end of the breech block 48, and which also has an angularly disposed arm H to which a lanyard, or the like, may be attached for swinging the hammer against the firing pin.

The gun is equipped with a suitable shell extractor mechanism, and as shown particularly in Figure 10, the mechanism comprises a pair of extractor arms I2 mounted on a cross shaft 13 carried in the lower end of the breech ring 58. The arms 12 are disposed at opposite sides of the barrel 50 and have inwardly extending rim engaging lips 14 which arecountersunk in .the

rear end of the barrel and engage. behind the rim of a shell, such as shown in Figure 3. One of the arms 12 is provided with a trip or projection which normally extends through a slot 76 provided in the adjacent side of the cradle 49. Thisv trip 15 is inclined downwardly and rearwardly and is disposed in the path of a trip pawl 11 mounted upon the breech block 48 at oneside thereof.

The pawl 11 is adapted to strike the trip 15 as the barrel '58 is swunginto open position to swing the arms 12 rearwardly from the barrel 58 and extract the shell fromthe breech of the barrel, and the pawl Tl isheld from swinging upwardly by a pin 18 but is free to swing downwardly by pressure of the trip 15 against its upper projecting edge to move the extractor back into normal position and to free the trip '85 without injury theretoror to the pawl 11. The pawl 1'! is spring pressed to normally seat against the pin 18 and to hold the outer end of the pawl in the path of the trip 15.

The forward end of the cradle 48 is provided with a downwardly extending fork 78 to which is pivotally connected by means of a pin 88 the forward end of a counterpoise adjusting device. The device comprises an inner cylinder 8| pivotally mounted at its forward end upon the pin 88 and which slidably engages in an outer cylinder 82 which at its rear end is pivoted by means of a pin 83 between the fork arms 45 ofthe main post 28. The inner cylinder 8| is externally threaded for a suitable distance at its free end and a collar 84 is disposed in threaded engagement on the threaded portion of the cylinder 8| and is provided with a hand wheel 85 by means of which the collar 84 may be turned to cause it to traverse the cylinder 8i.

The free end of the outer cylinder 82 is provided with a swivel ring 88 which is mounted within the hand wheel 85 and rotatively held therein by means of a removable retaining ring 81 held by screws, or the like, in the rear side of the hand wheel 85. This construction is shown in Figure 3 and it will be apparent that by turning the hand wheel 85 the cylinder 81 will be moved through the sleeve 84 and consequently telescoped to the desired degree within the outer cylinder 82. To counterbalance the weight of the cradle 49 with the gun barrel 58 thereon, a suitable spring 88 is fitted in the cylinders 8| and 82 for normally urging the same apart with a pressure counter to the weight of the cradle and the barrel. This spring 88 thus facilitates the turning of the hand wheel 85 and the relative lengthwise adjustment of the cylinders BI and 82. The sleeve 84 positively locks the adjusting device after the desired elevation of the gun is had.

It is apparent that the gun so constructed has a main pivot 46 which is in rear of the breech block 48, and that the gun is of the breech loading type, that the pivot of the barrel of the gun is disposed at the desired point with respect to the center of gravity of the barrel, and that the cradle 49 which extends from the breech blockv and supports the barrel, has a counterbalance adjusting device for holding the barrel at the desired inclination about its main pivot 48.

In the use of the gun, the barrel 58 is swung about the body support with the center post 28 into the desired direction, and a micrometer adjustment is made through the screw 42. The counterpoised support is now adjusted by turning the hand wheel 85 to raise and lower the gun to thedesired inclination upon the main pivot 46. The side handle 61 is now raised, the initial movement retracting the latch 64 and further moved to swingthe breech end of the barrel 58 upwardly beyond the breech block 48, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2-whereupon a loaded shell may be introduced into the breech, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3. The rim of the shell engages the, webs'or flanges 14 of the extractor mechanism and swings the arms 12 into the recesses within the rear end ,of the barrel. The barrel 58 isnow swung back upon its pivot 5| into the cradle 49, the latch 64 snapping beneath the adjacent lug 6| and locking the barrel 58 in proper alinement with the breech block 48. The gun is now ready to fire, and this operation may be carried on in the usual manner by operating the hammer 89.

After firing the gun, the handle 81 is again raised to first release the latch 84 and subsequently to swing the barrel 58 on its pivot 5| into open position.

During the opening movement of the barrel, the projection 15 of the extracting device engages the pawl 11 and the arms 12 are swung backwardly so as to engage the webs or flanges 14 with the rim of the shell to withdraw the same from the breech of the gun. The gun may thus be reloaded and the barrel 58 swung back into firing position.

The gun barrel is pivotally mounted so as to have muzzle preponderance but by an amount less than the weight of the projectile. Consequently when the barrel is unlocked the breech end will swing up and when the ammunition is inserted it will swing down. This construction produces an increased rapidity of fire.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A gun comprising a barrel, a cradle for the rear end portion of the barrel and pivotally connected thereto at the forward end of the cradle, a breech block on the rear end of the cradle, means for interlocking the barrel and the breech block in registering position, a gun mount having a rotatable support pivotally connected to the rear side of the breech block and upon which the barrel and cradle are adapted to swing, and a counterpoised support disposed between said post and the cradle for adjusting and retaining the cradle at the desired elevation upon the pivot of the breech block.

2. A gun comprising a barrel, a cradle for the barrel, a breech block carried by the cradle for closing the rear end of the barrel, a pivot between the forward end of the cradle and an intermediate portion of the barrel, an arm extending downwardly from the forward end of the cradle, a mount having a revolvable post pivotally connected to the rear side of the breech block for supporting the latter together with the cradle and the barrel, and an adjustable support disposed between said post and said depending arm at the forward end of the cradle.

3. A gun comprising a mount, Outriggers detachably carried by the mount, a post on the mount, a breech block pivotally mounted on the upper end of the post and having a cradle extending forwardly from the breech block, a barrel breech block, and an adjustable strut with a counterweight disposed between the cradle and the post.

4. A gun comprising a mount, a post in the mount adapted to turn completely therein, means for locking the post in an axial adjusted position, a cradle pivotally mounted on the upper end of the post, an adjustable strut between the post and the cradle for holding the latter at a desired angle of inclination,- a barrel pivoted intermediately upon the forward end of the cradle, and a breech block carried upon the rear end of the cradle in line with the breech of the barrel.

5. A gun comprising a mount, a breech block pivotally connected to the mount and having a cradle extending forwardly therefrom, a barrel pivotally mounted on the cradle in line with the breech block, said breech block having lateral lugs and said barrel having 'r'ea'rwar'dly extending lateral arms with shoulders for interlocking engagement with the lugs to hold the breech block against the inner end of the barrel, a latch mechanism interlocking the arms and lugs, and a handle on the side of said barrel connected to the latch mechanism for releasing the same prior to the opening of the breech.

6. A gun comprising a mount, a cradle pivotally mounted on the mount and having a breech block at its rear end with laterally extending lugs on the breech block, a barrel pivotally mounted on the forward end of the cradle and having rearwardly extending shouldered arms adapted to interlock with said arms when the barrel is closed, a spring pressed latch carried by one of said arms for interlocking engagement with the adjacent lug on the breech block to hold the barrel closed, and a handle pivoted externally upon the barrel with a pin on one end connected in cammed relation to said plate for retracting the same upon the inner upward movement of the handle, said handle adapted to swing the barrel into open position on its pivot to the cradle.

'7. A gun comprising a mount, a cradle pivoted at its inner end to the mount and having a breech block forwardly of the pivot, a barrel pivotally mounted on the cradle forwardly of the breech block and adapted to be swung into the cradle in line with the breech block, and an adjustable support between the mount and the cradle, said support comprising telescoping sections with external threads upon the inner section, a combined hand wheel and sleeve swiveled upon the free end of the outer section and said sleeve being internally threaded for engagement with the threads of the inner section whereby rotation of the hand wheel is adapted to relatively move said sections, and a counterbalancing spring arranged within said sections for relieving the threaded portions of the sleeve and inner sections against strain incident to the weight of the cradle and the parts carried thereby.

8. A gun comprising a barrel, a cradle for the rear end portion of the barrel and pivotally connected thereto at the forward end of the cradle, a breech block on the rear end of the cradle, a gun mount having a rotatable post pivotally connected to the rear side of the breech block and upon which the barrel and cradle are adapted to swing, and a counterpoised support disposed between said post and the cradle for adjusting and retaining the cradle at the desired elevation upon the pivot of the breech block.

9. A gun comprising a barrel, a cradle for the barrel, a breech block carried by the cradle for closing the rear end of the barrel, a pivot between the forward end of the cradle and an intermediate portion of the barrel, a mount having a revolvable post pivotally connected to the rear side of the breech block for supporting the latter together with the cradle and the barrel, and an adjustable support disposed between said post and the forward end of the cradle.

LOUIS L. DRIGGS. 

